G'day MtheGM,

Paterson picked up the phrase "Waltzing Matilda" in the eastern end of Queensland ... where quite a high German presence built up as various Germanic groups fled the "unification" (aka 'conquest') by Bismarck in the late 19th century.

This was a term used for centuries back by German soldiers ... for their improvised field bedding of greatcoat and whatever else kept them warm. The name is a variant of (~) mechthilde ... roughly "mighty maided", a synonym for various warrior godesses ... or other soldiers' fancied personages.

The term also is firmly in the argot of the German 'journeyman' ... the tradesman required to travel ... at least (?) 50 kilometres away from the town in which he was apprenticed - working day work (hence journeyman ... from the French for day ... not from 'day trip' ...). These learner tradesmen carry their clothing and tools in a toolbag called their (~) Mathilde ... still, in this 21st century.

The Australian swagmen would have included many of Germanic origin ... and the term became well embedded by the end of the 19th century. 'Dutchy' Hoffmeier (~ ?) was the striking shearer whose death ... in dubious circumstances ... in the environs of a billabong (anabranch ... "dead water" ... extra channel in a creek) ... may have underlain Paterson's composition of what is much more than an innocent rural jingle!

Regards,

Bob